Flight Recorder

Restoration Log

January 2018

  • Added heat/sound barrier to firewall
  • Rebuilt Heater Core (A1 Radiator)
  • Re-centered blower fan cage
  • Lubricated blower motor
  • Replaced dash light bulbs
  • Lubricated slide for swing away steering
  • Rerouted heater & vacuum hoses to factory
  • Filled/bled cooling system again
  • Re-sealed power steering reservoir
  • Added powered steering reservoir filter
  • Re-filled power steering fluid
  • Installed & adjusted heater Bowden cables
  • Re-wired and mounted RediRad unit
  • Added heat/sound barrier to transmission tunnel
  • Cleaned & repaired wiring harnesses
  • Added wire looms and screws as needed
  • Cleaned and installed accelerator pedal
  • Cleaned and installed high beam switch
  • Re-soldered top up/down power wire
  • Replaced windshield washer motor/pump
  • Replaced windshield washer switch and housing assembly
  • Tested all electrical with dash removed
  • Added ground cable for blower resistor
  • Painted dash with factory vinyl color match SEM
  • Painted dash emblem sides
  • Painted steering and dash brackets
  • Painted speedo and instrument cluster
  • Polished out most pitting on cluster

February 2018

  • Installed dash pad and instruments
  • Installed steering wheel and horn ring
  • Filled tires to 32psi
  • Topped off brake fluid
  • Charged battery
  • Idle and road test - all repairs successful
  • Topped off coolant
  • Adjusted flip lid limit switch
  • Re-aligned flip lid and top jack screws
  • Cleaned and lubricated driver seat
  • Installed driver seat, modified front bolt
  • Shortened power door window bumpers
  • Aligned driver door to body lines, gaps
  • Re-aligned driver quarter window to new door window position
  • Lubricated window rollers
  • Sanded/painted visors same as dash
  • Re-aligned visor catches
  • Corrected visor hinge screws
  • Removed rust/cleaned windshield side covers
  • Realigned windshield passenger corner shield
  • Painted steering wheel hub same as dash
  • Tightened and adjusted power steering inlet hose
  • Topped off power steering fluid
  • Aligned passenger door to body
  • Lubricated passenger door hinge assembly
  • Lubricated passenger window regulator
  • Re-cemented rearview mirror button to windshield AGAIN
  • Tightened power steering outlet hose

March 2018

  • Drained cooling system
  • Removed surge tank and radiator
  • Removed front engine bay wiring and hoses
  • Patched and sealed battery area
  • Prepped and painted engine bay (front)
  • Stripped/prepped/painted engine braces
  • Stripped/body worked/painted radiator shroud
  • New radiator (core - 12 fins/in)
  • Rebuilt and repaired surge tank
  • New thermostat and gasket
  • New 13psi radiator cap
  • Filled/bled cooling system
  • New engine bay wiring looms & routing
  • Added sticker to radiator shroud
  • Replaced main wiper spray line and "T"
  • Test Drove. Cooling system worked great!

April 2018

  • Masked areas to protect from dust: dash, top mechanism components, interior
  • April 2nd: Drove and delivered T-Bird to Carlos at Final Finish Auto Body in Sparks, NV to complete exterior welding, repair, prep and paint
  • Cleaned out garage and prepped for re-assembly

May 2018 - October 2018 (Final Finish)

  • Hood dents removed, body filler
  • Front fenders smoothed w body filler
  • Driver rear front quarter panel replaced
  • Rear qtr inner panel panels fabricated
  • Rear quarter patch panels welded in
  • Driver door removed, body filler
  • Dent removed pass side rear qtr
  • Front end primed
  • Pass door removed, 3 patches welded in
  • Deck lid removed, welded in steel reinforcement plates on structural brace
  • Deck lid body work
  • Fender skirts body filler/smoothed
  • Primed hood scoop, skirts, doors
  • Painted door jambs

September 2018

  • Masked and painted wheel covers

October 2018

  • Body/Paint complete; back from Final Finish
  • Dropped off Tonneau Cover to Final Finish to receive matching paint
  • Installed and adjusted top
  • Assembled fender skirt seals and wheel covers to car
  • Attached side emblems
  • Assembled three piece package tray
  • New clips for chrome trim on package tray
  • Installed hood scoop, polished chrome
  • Polished and installed hood lettering
  • Installed new hood bumpers
  • Installed new belt weather-strip for exterior quarter & main windows
  • Assembled rear bumper brackets and exhaust hangers
  • Installed reverse lights
  • Rust converted and cleaned inside of chrome rear bumper
  • Assembled bumper, taillights, license plate light
  • Assembled door locks, handles with new seals
  • Installed driver mirror and remote
  • Rebuilt passenger courtesy light switch
  • Riveted VIN plate to driver door
  • Added courtesy light actuators
  • Lubed and tested window runners
  • Installed door upper and lower bumpers
  • Installed door weather-strip
  • Polished and assembled chrome parts for doors
  • Cleaned and Installed door panels
  • Replaced both door escutcheons
  • Lubed wing window gears
  • Installed hood cowl gasket
  • Installed hood cowl
  • Installed and positioned window washers
  • Installed and adjusted wipers
  • Painted windshield washer nozzles

November 2018

  • Installed electric pusher fan
  • New mounts and electric fan connections
  • Installed and sound-proofed metal gas filler tube cover
  • Installed hood turn signal indicator lamps
  • Repaired turn signal fuse panel bracket
  • Replaced turn signal fuse
  • Restored ground on driver hood turn signal indicator
  • Painted headlight mount housings
  • Installed headlight buckets and headlights
  • Cleaned and rust converted inside of front bumper
  • Installed front bumper assembly with fresh hardware, adjusted
  • Installed front turn signals
  • Installed new personalized plates, "JETBIRD"
  • Added rear license plate bumpers
  • Installed new battery, under warranty
  • Cleaned up engine bay from shop dust
  • Installed radio
  • Installed retractable antenna with custom switch, hidden in console
  • Installed heater control unit
  • Cleaned/rust converted inside of center console and back of rear seat trim panels
  • Painted center console
  • Painted remaining interior trim pieces: rear armrests, rear side panels, rear ash tray cover, rear seat arm rest components, center console arm rest, radio access covers, kick panels
  • Cleaned interior from shop dust
  • Installed remaining interior sound barrier and heat shielding. Passenger area complete
  • Prepped and cleaned console/dash contents and hardware
  • Installed center console and arm rest
  • Painted black edge trim on dash/console plate covers
  • Re-attached footman loop for tonneau cover to console
  • Rebuilt unlock window switch
  • Rebuilt fasten seat belts switch
  • Installed window switches, seat belt warning switch, cigar lighter, console lights and top control switch
  • Repaired rear arm rest bracket connections, installed arm rest
  • Added light shield to headlight switch
  • Installed clock and remaining dash components
  • Installed new carpeting
  • Installed kick plates and center console trim
  • Cleaned and top coated front seats
  • Installed driver and passenger seats
  • Installed rear side panels and switches
  • Installed rear seat and arm rests
  • Cleaned and protected rear seats
  • Changed sparkplugs
  • Changed oil (5 qts 10-30 with Zinc additive)
  • Changed oil filter
  • Changed air filter
  • Advanced timing a couple of degrees
  • Rebuilt top down limit switch
  • Added vinyl patches to rear seat center, driver seat, door panel jambs
  • Added temporary seat cover to passenger lower seat
  • Installed deck lid jack instructions sticker
  • Vehicle appraisal performed by Larry Davis/Auto Appraisal Network, Reno

December 2018

  • Picked up tonneau cover from Final Finish
  • Created vinyl pads and powdered for underside of tonneau cover
  • Adjusted top frame positioning to accommodate tonneau cover
  • Cleaned and lubricated "long" passenger seat belt
  • Added radio suppression choke to voltage regulator
  • Added padding to friction points under tonneau cover